Draft-gear.



A. E. NOBLE.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED 1,111.23, 1908.

' Patented 001111911.

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- A. E. NOBLE.

DRAFT GEAR.

ArlLroATIoN FILED JAN. 23, 190s.

1,006, 120, Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

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A. E. NOBLE.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLIQATION FILED JAN. 2a, 190s.

1,006,120. Patented oct.17,'1911. Y

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ALBERT E. NOBLE, OF ANNISTON, ALABAMA.

DRAFT- GEAR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. NOBLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Anniston, in the county of Calhoun and State of Alabama,have invented new and useful Improvements in Draft-Gears, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved draft gear forrailway cars which will more effectually absorb the shocks, jars,concussions and sudden strains to which cars are subjected in servicethan has been done by the draft gears heretofore used, so far as I canascertain.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a draft gear of strong,substantial and compact construction, consisting of few parts which canbe readily assembled and applied to a car, and which can be manufacturedat low cost; also to provide a draft gear which will increase theresistance to the coupler movement as the coupler travels relative tothe car; to apply the principle of the toggle joint to a draft gear andemploy a spring in an upright position to resist the action of thetoggles; to connect the coupler to the front end of the draft gear andthereby reduce the lateral strains on the car, the wear on the wheelflanges and the transverse shearing strains on the coupler fastenings;and to absorb a large part, if not all, of the sudden shocks given to acoupler before the inertia of the car is overcome.

The invention has other objects in view which will appear hereafter in adetailed description of the accompanying drawings, showing oneembodiment of the invention, and in which- Figure 1 is an elevationshowing my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View. Figs.

yand 11 are transverse sectional views on the lines BH3 and LiL-l,respectively, of Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views,respectively, of a spring cap, the back lug and the front lug. Fig. 8 isan elevation, with the compression bars and cheek plates removed,showing the gear in normal position. Fig. 9 is a horizontal centralsectional view, with the compression bars and cheek plates present, ofthe gear in normal position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 23, 1908.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

seriai No. 412,242.

Figs. 10 and 11 are views similar, respectively, to Figs. 8 and'9,showing the gear in position with the coupler in tension. Figs. 12 and13 are views similar, respectively, to Figs. 8 and 9, showing the gearin position with the coupler in compression.

Referring to the drawings, 14 designates the coupler to which a yoke 15is suitably attached. This yoke carries a tail plate 1G which projectslaterally through openings 17 in a housing 18 on the front lug 19. Thisfront lug 19 and the back lug 20 (Figs. 7, 6) are provided with twopairs of laterally projecting pivot studs 19, 20', and these studs havea portion 19 and 20 of the true circle removed for a purpose hereafterdescribed. A spring 21 has its ends inclosed in caps 22 (Figs. 1, 5) andthese caps carry pivot studs 22 which also have a portion 22 of the truecircle removed. To facilitate the assembling of the parts the caps aresecured in place on the spring by a bolt 23 and when these parts areassembled in proper position relative to the front and back lugs thepivot studs on the caps will engage the pivot studs on the lugs in themanner shown in Figs. l and S. Toggle links 241 are engaged with thesepivot studs to connect the spring caps with the front and back lugs, andthese links can be made very short because the cut-out portions of thepivot studs permit each pair of studs to overlap, as shown in Figs. 1and 8. Y j

Cheek plates 25, forming guides and supports for the gear, are suitablysupported on the sills 26 of the car frame, and compression bars 27and28 are connected together above and below the cheek plates by bolts29. These compression bars have projections 27 and 28 which abut againsteach other to space the bars apart, and the bolts pass through saidprojections. Extensions 8O at the forward end of the compression barsconstitute guides for the tail plate 16 which projects therebetween, asshown in Figs. 9 11 and13. Extensions, 31, 31 at the back end of thecompression bars (Fig. 1) guide and support the back lug 32, the lateralwings of which (Fig. 6) rest upon extensions 31. The front lug 33 alsohas lateral wings, located on the housing (Fig.

7 which project through the openings 34 (Fig. 1) between the upper andlower compression bars and the projections thereon. The compression barsmove longitudinally and relatively to the cheek plates and the latterare provided with guide studs 35 which project into the guide grooves 36on the compression bars (Figs. 1, 2). The ends of the tail plate 16 arearranged to engage the abutting projections 27 and 28 which constitutethe frontend of the compression bars (Figs. 1, 9, 13). Ihile one springmay be sufficient I have shown two springs, one within the other, in thedrawings to provide a resistance to the movement of the toggles.

In assembling the parts, the yoke attached to the coupler is inserted inthe housing of the front lug and the tail plate is slipped into place inthe yoke, its ends projecting through the side openings in the housing.The caps are fastened on the ends of the spring by the bolt 23 and thespring is compressed so that the links can be readily applied to thepivot studs to connect the caps with the front and back lugs. rIhe uppercompression bars are arranged on the cheek plates, the previouslyassembled parts are placed in position between the cheek plates, thelower compression bars are arranged beneath the cheek plates and boltedto the upper compression bars to secure the gear in operative position.Then the bolt 28 is loosened and the spring expanding draws the back lugagainst the back end of the compression bars and the latter against theback end of the cheek plates, the front lug against the front end of thecheek plates, and the tail plate in contact with the front end of thecompression bars and the front wall 17 of the side openings in thehousing.

In the drawings, the end sill of the car is indicated by 37 and Figs. 1,2, 8 and 9 show the parts in normal position with the cutout portions ofthe pivot studs in engagement.

In Figs. 10 and 11, the gear is shown under a pulling strain applied tothe coupler. As the tail plate is in engagement with the front wall 17ofthe side openings in the housing in normal position a pulling strainon the coupler will be transmitted through the tail plate and the yoketo the front lug to move the front lug forward in unison with thecoupler. The backlug, in the normal position of the gear, is inengagement with the back ends of the compression bars and the latter arein engagement with the back ends of the cheek plates so that the backlug will be prevented from moving forward with the front lug under apulling strain applied to the coupler. Therefore the links will swing onthe pivot studs to move the cap plates inwardly toward each other andcompress the spring, and this compression increases, and consequentlythe resistance afforded by the spring against the toggle motionincreases, as the forward movement of the coupler proceeds. A pullingstrain on the coupler is applied to the car at the back end of the cheekplates.

In Figs. 12 and 13 the gear is shown under a compression strain appliedto the coupler. As the coupler moves backward, under a compressionstrain, it carries with it the tail plate which engages the front end ofthe compression bars and forces them back to move the back lug backward.The front lug is then in engagement with the front end of the cheekplates and is thus prevented from backward movement so that the linksare swung on the pivot studs to compress the spring as heretoforeexplained. A compression strain on the coupler is applied to the car atthe front end of the cheek plates.

My invention comprises only a comparatively few parts of strong andsubstantial construction which can be easily assembled and applied inoperative position. The construction is such that the resistanceafforded by the spring to the strains applied to the coupler isautomatically increased in an increasing ratio to the degree of thestrain, by means of toggle motion. The invention also provides forabsorbing a large part of sudden shocks given to the coupler before theinertia of the car is overcome and the construction of the pivot studs,cut-away to overlap each other, enables the use of very short links toprovide the toggle joints in compact form. By connecting the coupler tothe front end of the draft gear, as herein shown and described,transverse shearing strains on the yoke fastening, lateral strains onthe car and wear on the wheel anges due to lateral strain on the couplerare greatly reduced.-

IVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a draft-gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, a pairof members between which said spring is disposed, and oscillatoryconnecting means between each end of said members and the Coupler fortransmitting the longitudinal movement of the coupler in eitherdirection to said members to compress the spring disposed between themwhereby the strain applied to the coupler is yieldingly resisted.

2. In a draft-gear, the combination with a coupler, of a plurality ofmovable members adapted to receive a spring between them, a springdisposed between the members, and oscillatory link and stud connectingmeans between said members and the coupler whereby longitudinal movementof the coupler in either direction will compress the spring between themembers to yieldingly resist the strain applied to the coupler.

3. ln a draft-gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring disposedtransversely to the longitudinal axis of the coupler, a memberoperatively engaged with either end of the spring, and toggle jointconnections between the ends of said members and the coupler wherebymovement of the coupler in either direction will draw the memberstogether against the force of the spring to yieldingly resist the strainapplied to the coupler.

4l. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, andtoggle joint means between the coupler and spring and engaging the endsof the spring foi` applying the longitudinal movement of the coupler ineither direction to compress the spring in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the coupler and in a constantly increasing ratio tothe movement of the coupler to resist the strain applied to the coupler.

5. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring arrangedtransversely of the direction of movement of the coupler, a pair ofcheel plates, and means comprising a toggle joint connection movablerelatively to and guided on said cheek plates to apply the longitudinalmovement of the coupler in either direction to compress the springwhereby the strain applied to the coupler is yieldingly resisted.

6. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, a pairof cheek plates, and toggle joint means movable relatively to the cheekplates and limited in their movement in one direction by engagement withone end of the cheek plates and in the other direction by engagementwith the other end thereof and adapted to compress the spring to resistthe strain on the coupler.

7. n a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring,stationary cheek plates, and means comprising members movabletransversely of the aXis of the coupler, and permanently connected tosaid coiipler bv oscillatory connecting means and adapted to be operatedby the coupler and movable between and relatively to the cheek plates toengage the end thereof opposing the direction of movement of the couplerand compress the spring to resist the strain on the coupler.

8. ln a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, a pairof cheek plates,

and toggle means operated by the coupler to compress the spring toresist the strain on the coupler, said means being bodily movablerelatively to the cheek plates and limited in said movement byengagement with an end of the cheek plates.

9. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, a pairof cheek plates, and toggle means bodily movable relatively to saidcheek plates and limited in said bodily movement in one direction bysaid cheek plates, said means being movable independently of said bodilymovement to compress the spring to resist the strain on the coupler.

l0. ln a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, a pairof stationary cheek plates, and toggle means bodily movable relativelyto the cheek plates and limited in said movement in one direction byengagement with an end of the cheek plates, said toggle means beingfurther movable after said bodily movement ceases to straighten thetoggles and compress the spring to resist the strain on the coupler.

ll. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, capsat the ends of the spring, compression bars adapted to be movedlongitudinally by and with the coupler, and means connected with saidcaps and operated by said compression bars for moving the caps tocompress the spring to resist the strain on the coupler.

12. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, capsat the ends of the spring, a pair of cheek plates, movable compressionbars guided on said cheek plates and limited in their movement by saidcheek plates, and means intermediate of the caps and compression barsfor so transmitting the longitudinal movement of the bars to the caps tocompress the spring that an increasingly yielding resistance is offeredto the movement of the compression bars as they approach the limit oftheir movement in the direction in which the coupler is moved.

13. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, capsat the ends of the spring, movable lugs on opposite sides of the spring,connections between said caps and lugs, said lugs being capable of arelative movement to compress the spring to resist the strain on thecoupler in either direction.

14. ln a draft-gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, capsat the ends of the spring, movable lugs on opposite sides of the spring,connections between said caps and lugs, and means for n'ioving said lugsrelatively to the caps to compress the spring to resist the strain onthe coupler.

15. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a verticallyarranged spring, caps at the ends of the spring, movable front and backlugs on opposite sides of the spring, connections between said caps andlugs, means fo-r moving said lugs, and means for holding said lugsstationary, the back lug being stationary and the front lug movableunder'a pulling strain on the coupler, and

the front lug being stationary and the back lug movable under acompression strain on the coupler to compress the spring for resistingthe strain on the coupler.

16. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, capsat the ends of the spring, movable lugs on opposite sides of the spring,means normally engaged by t-he lugs for limiting the movement of saidlugs toward each other, means connecting said caps and lugs, and meansoperated by the coupler on its longitudinal movement under a compressionstrain for moving one lug while the -other remains stationary tocompress the spring and resist the strain on the coupler.

17. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, capsat t-he ends of the spring, movable lugs on opposite sides of thespring, cheek plates between said lugs and normally engaged thereby forlimiting the movement o-f said lugs toward each other, means connectingsaid caps and lugs, and means operated by the coupler on itslongitudinal movement under a pulling strain for moving one lug whilethe other remains stationary to compress the spring and resist thestrain on the coupler.

18. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, capsat the ends of the spring, lugs on opposite sides of the spring, linkconnections between the caps and lugs, and means operated by the coupleron its longitudinal movement in one direction for moving one of saidlugs and means operated by the coupler on its longitudinal movement inthe other direction for moving the other lug to compress the spring toresist the strain on the coupler.

19. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, capson the ends of the spring, lugs on opposite sides of the spring, stopsfor the lugs connections between the caps and lugs, and compression barsadapted to be moved by and with the coupler for moving one of said lugsto produce an inward movement of the caps thereby compressing the springto resist the strain on the coupler.

20. In a draft gear, the combination of a pair of lugs, stops for saidlugs, a spring, caps on the ends of the spring, connections between thecaps and lugs, said spring acting by expansion to hold said lugsnormally in engagement with said stops, and a tail plate operated by andwith the coupler to move one of said lugs while the other rei' mainsstationary and thereby produce an inward movement of the caps tocompress a coupler, of a spring, caps on the ends of the spring, lugs onopposite sides of the spring, stops for the lugs connections between thecaps and lugs, compression bars having a limited play and engaged withand adapted to move one of said lugs to produce an inward movement ofthe caps, thereby compressing the spring to resist the strain on thecoupler, and a tail plate actuated by the coupler on its longitudinalmovement to engage and operate said compression bars.

22. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of aspring, caps onthe ends of the spring, lugs on opposite sides of the spring, stops forthe lugs connections between said caps and lugs, compression barsmovable longitudinally and adapted to move one of said lugs to producean inward movement of the caps thereby compressing the spring to resistthe strain on the coupler, and a tail plate operated by the coupler toengage and operate the other lug on the longitudinal movement in onedirection of the coupler and vto engage and operate said compressionbars on the longitudinal movement of the coupler in the other direction.

23. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, capson the ends of the spring, lugs on opposite sides of the spring,contacting pivot studs on the caps and on the lugs, links embracing thestuds on the lugs with the studs on the caps, and means for moving oneof said lugs relative to the other to produce an inward movement of thecaps thereby compressing the spring to resist the strain on the coupler.

24. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a spring, capson the ends of the spring, lugs on opposite sides of the spring, stopsfor the lugs pivot studs on said caps and on said lugs, said studs beingcut-away so that the studs on the caps will overlap the studs on thelugs, links connecting said studs, and means for moving one of said lugsto produce an inward movement of the caps thereby compressing the springto resist the strain on the coupler.

25. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler and a pair ofstationary cheek plates, of a spring, caps on the ends of the spring,lugs on opposite sides of the spring and at opposite ends of the cheekplates, connections between the caps and lugs, movable compression barsguided on and limited in their movement by said cheek plates, one ofsaid lugs engaging said compression bars, and a tail plate engaged withthe coupler and adapted to operate said compression bars and said lug.

26. In a draft gear, the combination with 'a coupler and a pair ofstationary cheek plates, of compression bars arranged above and belowsaid cheek plates and movable longitudinally thereon, the upper bars having projections to engage similar projections on the lower bars, boltspassing through the upper and lower bars through said projections tosecure the bars together on the cheek plates, a spring located betweenthe bars, caps on the ends of the spring, lugs located between the barsand at opposite ends of the cheek plates and flexibly connected to thecaps, one lug being 10 compression bars.

ALBERT E. NOBLE. Witnesses:

C. B. WELLS7 J. A. BRADLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

